Bellestar

Bellestar came to the RAPS sanctuary from the same home that brought us Tom Cat, Coco, and others. I had a chance to meet her (i.e., single her out from all the other black cats living in the front courtyard) this week while she's in a cage finishing up some treatment for urinary crystals.

Brigid suggested I go and visit her, describing her as very friendly. This turned out to be more than true: not only was Bellestar delighted to receive a visit, any time I stepped out of stroking range she'd start flailing a paw in my direction until her claws found purchase and she was able to drag my hand back close enough to snuffle or rub against.

This resulted in a few unintentional scratches to my hands, but it was impossible to be upset with her since she so obviously didn't mean any harm. Once I figured out how to stay either within cuddle range or out of claw range, we had an excellent visit that was a great pleasure to us both.

Cagney

Despite the feminine name, Cagney is actually a male cat who found his own way to RAPS in search of a reliable meal ticket. Cagney hung out in the parking lot by the food bowls and eventually allowed himself to be caught and brought inside the chain link walls of the sanctuary. He seemed to understand that by sticking close to people there just might be something to gain, so he tried his luck at RAPS. Smart kitty; he hit the jackpot when he found the sanctuary was chock-a-block full of adoring people and food bowls every three feet.

 

Although Cagney has been a resident for a while now, he has yet to lose his feral ways. Refusing to allow me within 10 feet of him, he would scamper away if I got too close safely maintaining his comfort barrier. When the treats arrived however, he decided to close that comfort barrier to finger sniffing distance, but that was about it. Although still a shy guy, Leslie tells me that Cagney appears to be very happy to be a resident of our kitty paradise and has adjusted well to life at the sanctuary.

 

So where did the female name come from? Leslie told me an interesting fact about cats that come on their own accord seeking shelter and food from us - they are all named after detectives owing to their excellent sleuthing skills. Cagney of course, is named after the 80's TV show Cagney and Lacey. How he ended up with a female name I do not know but I'm guessing that Cagney wasn't likely going to let us check under the hood to confirm such matters without at least a few romantic dinners first.

As I watched Cagney, Doug pulled out his laser and Cagney got busy chasing the quick green light across the pavement. He had almost forgotten his wary and watchful self and allowed Leslie one quick pet until Tom Cat came along and smacked Cagney in the head which of course sent him running for cover, guard back up as usual.

 



Coco

Coco is a cat who recently came to RAPS this spring with the same group of 10 cats that brought us Tom Cat, a group left to RAPS out of love from an owner too sick to care for them anymore. The cats were initially placed Val Jones house as a safe haven during the transition period to their new life.

For whatever reason, pretty boy Coco was being picked on by the rest of the cats which was surprising given they all came from the same household.  Coco was quickly moved into the Hill House in the hopes of giving him a fresh start minus his daily browbeating from the Val Jones crowd.  His pen in Hill House was open when we were first introduced, but he was very shy and made his reservations about me quite clear.

Ann describes him as a really sweet cat and even a “head-butter” but at the moment, he would not allow me within 10 feet of him.  Ann assured me that in time I would certainly win him over, he was too social to let fear get in the way for long.

I arrived at the sanctuary the following week and headed straight for Coco determined to get better acquainted. I was met with terrified eyes that seemed to say “oh no, not you again?” Ann encouraged me to try my luck with some treats and sure enough coco overcame his fear for the sake of his stomach and tentatively took the treats from my fingers.  Eventually, the treats were gone and soon I was able to lay my hand on coco without him running away. Slowly but surely, he started to melt under my finger tips and a personal triumph was mine, I had made a new friend.

Photo by Ann

Photo by Ann